English Transformation Center Grant

Karen Burstein, Ph.D. and Executive Director of the Picard Center, will be evaluating a program led by Michelle Haj-Broussard, Ph.D., and the Lafayette Parish School System that is now well underway. The program seeks to provide dual language instruction (Spanish and English) to local students and to train teachers in appropriate techniques that will lead toward certifications. The primary goal of this project is to systematically train current and future English Language Learner teachers in an increasingly content-based approach to language acquisition. Teachers' growing expertise and program data will inform and improve instruction and mentoring services. The second goal of the project is also to welcome and fully integrate the English Language Learners into the local school community by providing family and parent engagement and by training school administration, faculty, and staff of the importance of having an assets perspective.